Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[bd139]

Yeah definitely not worth it. I paid equiv about $30 for my working one!

[bd139]

Just bought another Heathkit VTVM for a respectable £19 

This one looks in better condition than the last one, albeit needs a couple of knobs. Worst case it's got the brains and a meter face that isn't cracked (yet).

[Specmaster]

Just bought another Heathkit VTVM for a respectable £19 

This one looks in better condition than the last one, albeit needs a couple of knobs. Worst case it's got the brains and a meter face that isn't cracked (yet).

Was that on Ebay? Looks very good meter wise, knobs are not originals or matching even. Making 1 good one from the two then and keeping the other as parts mule?

[bd139]

Yes it was badly listed as "valve volt meter". No mention of Heathkit or it'd have gone for a lot more. Comes with original box, cables and what looks like an RF probe too! Original listing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152716945729

Exactly that with the parts mule. Going to probably disassemble them both completely, select and test all the parts and build a good one. Also you get that "original heathkit build experience". Better order another roll of soder-wick!

I've got someone sending me a couple of knobs off an RF-1U that has just been scrapped so will have a good set.

[Specmaster]

Don't yeh just love it when people make basic mistakes in listing things, thats when you get a real bargain. Yes that is a RF probe, your lucky to get one of them, I didn't so I'm on the look out for one. I would also say from the listing that there is a very good chance of it being a working one as it without any work needed apart replacing the knobs, well done.

[bd139]

Fingers crossed. You never know what you’re getting with Heathkit though. I’ve had some which have been properly mutilated before and some really nicely assembled ones. Then there’s the battery leak risk with the VTVMs.

At one point I managed to collect 4 IB-1100 Nixie tube counters. Out of that I got two working ones and a limping one. Then I sold them. So much regret

Mutilated V-7A here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/292277916730 - I did consider buying it for parts but you can see rust around the pots on it so it’s likely to be a bin job. That would be one very expensive knob!

[bd139]

Not buying this one but there’s one here with Fetrons in it!  Rare as anything.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/142520352317

[Specmaster]

Not buying this one but there’s one here with Fetrons in it!  Rare as anything.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/142520352317

The first one, I'd have brought it a few months ago if the meter was working and then I could have made one from two. I had a immaculate one but with an open circuit movement. This one here is also a tad expensive even with Fetrons fitted, although with the need for heaters removed, the transformer would plenty of oomph for a battery replacement circuit as well.

Should be getting my Nixie meter by Friday, can't wait for it 

[bd139]

That’s a burger when the meter is shot. I’m slightly worried about this one as it’s being shipped by Hermes. If it’s broke I’m going to be annoyed. Good idea with the battery replacement although if you’re going to that level it’s probably worth just ripping the tubes out and sticking a simple FET bridge in.

Remember with the nixie meter, don’t turn it on, take it apart

[Specmaster]

Haha, unlike Dave, I only take em apart to check for anything thats going to prevent it from working, like the Fluke 8505A when it arrives will be setup for 120v so I'll have take it apart to reconfigure the tappings for 240v. The nixie, is already setup for 240v and is working so except for curiosity sake, I wont be taking it apart, but I will be having a squiss inside though   

[BU508A]

Not buying this one but there’s one here with Fetrons in it!  Rare as anything.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/142520352317

Please forgive me my ignorance, but what is "Fetron"?

[bd139]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetron

[bitseeker]

It went for 10 dollars, yes, but the shipping was triple that even to me a measly 400 miles away from it.

Exactly. Would've been $25 shipping to me. A bit much.

[Specmaster]

Fellow TEA members, heres a heads up, found this on Ebay today and is in A1 condition, any takers?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volmetro-Voltemetre-Heathkit-modello-IM-11-con-sonda-1961-1968/362115174463?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D46150%26meid%3Debc810ff44324db586435979fc0f98c5%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D182753742139&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[bd139]

Oh that's a rather nice specimen. Not a speck of rust or anything 

[Specmaster]

Oh that's a rather nice specimen. Not a speck of rust or anything 

Go for it, you know you want to 

[bd139]

Tempting. I'm going to have to get a shelf to put all these VTVMs on 

Been trying to repair my father's home brew oscilloscope today. I'll do some photos at some point. It's the ugliest pile of crap I've ever worked on. Think it was ripped off from a heathkit design from the 1970s using ex war department tube instead.

[Specmaster]

Heres a couple of pics of mine, I think I did alright in the end as well, its a minter.

I'm sure we'd all love to see some pics of that when you're ready.

[bd139]

That's a really nice unit. You got lucky there. Nice clear meter cover as well, something I haven't been blessed with yet!

[Specmaster]

Yes I know, but heres how it started off and it was almost twice the cost of yours, so you really did well by comparison. 

[bd139]

That’s a big improvement what you managed with that.

We’ll see if Hermes manage to bugger it or not first

[Specmaster]

When that nixie meter arrives, I'll be taking the top of that and giving it a nice overspray with black paint again, luckily the fascia looks to be in good condition, but I think its also being delivered by Hermes so who knows what it be like when it gets here.

Mind you, I have to give credit where its due and the last 3 items have been delivered by them and they all arrived OK, including one that had the wrong house number on it but the driver thought it was meant to be coming to me so he knocked and checked, so theres hope yet for the safe arrival of yours. 

[bd139]

No such luck with Hermes here. Same guy every time. We get three swift smacks on the door and if you don’t answer within 20 seconds it gets lugged unceremoniously over the back gate and a ticket chucked over with it. I actually put the kids’ old trampoline by the gate if I’m out to try and absorb some of the impact.

I had a nice HP 6216B slung over the fence and it smashed the meter mounts, the neon indicator and cracked the board. Total write off . There was some Emma Bridgewater pottery delivered as well that was completely destroyed.

[Specmaster]

Well the only thing you can do (I assume you report these to Hermes?) is to boycott anyone who uses Hermes as the courier.  If buying on Ebay, insist that the seller uses parcelforce 48 or DPD for instance, or like me, preferably look for local sellers and collect from them.

[tggzzz]

Or get them to deliver to a local shop?